Has anyone heard of the Rockefeller Drug Law Reform? If so, can someone give me a little info on it?

[gustav]

In NY in the 1970s there was an alleged epidemic of crime that was attributed to drug addiction. In response draconian drug laws were passed giving long mandatory sentences to people caught using a dealing drugs. Sentences of 30 to life were commonplace. Of course this filled up the prisons quickly and there were a huge number of minorities convicted.

Just a year or two ago many of these laws were reformed and lots of people who were non-violent offenders serving brutally long sentences were released or at least had their sentences reduced.

One case I knew of was a kid who was caught with 4 ounces of cocaine when he was 19-years-old. He got a 30-to-life sentence, which was reduced to 15-to-life after reform. The reduction meant he was eligible for parole after something like 8 years and he was released.